Automatic starter for internal combustion engines



Feb. 20, 1934. K. R. BLAKE 1,948,198

I 7 AUTOMATIC STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 24, 19334 [Nil ,7

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- Patented Feb. 20, 1934 PATENT? OFFIcE AUTOMATIC STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Kenneth E. Blake, Anderson, Ind., assignor of one-fourth to B. D. Emanuel, Anderson, Ind.

Application July 24, 1932;.- Serial No. 682,036

13 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and usen11 improvements in automatic starters for internal combustion engines.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an automatic starter for a motor car adapted to be controlled by the accelerator operator rod, the movement of which effects an initial closing of a switch in a suitable circuit with a solenoid and a source of current in order to move an operator into engagement with a second switch operating member.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic starter for a motor vehicle of the above mentioned character which will allow the breakage of the circuit through the starting motor upon the operation of the internal combustion engine which operates a generator so that sufiicient current will be produced to neutralize the effect of the storage battery upon the solenoid thereby de-energizing the solenoid and breaking the circuit through said starter motor.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an automatic starter of the above mentioned character in which the initial switch may be closed regardless of the position of the accelerator operating rod without effecting the operation of the starter motor when the engine is in operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an automatic starter system for a motor vehicle which maybe operated bythe movement of the accelerator control rod whereby a single element may be employed for opening the throttle valve of the engine and simultaneously closing a switch to the starter-motor circuit which is necessary and which has heretofore been accomplished by means of two distinct control devices.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an automatic starter for motor vehicles of the above mentioned character arranged so as to be quite effective and at the same time foolproof.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an automatic starter arrangement for a motor vehicle associated with the accelerator operating rod in such a manner that the accelerator rod may be operated to increase or decrease the fuel to the cylinders of the internal combustion engine without effecting the operation of the starter provided the engine is in operation, thereby reducing the hazard of the starting motor being operated while the engine is in motion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description:--

In the single figure of the drawing there is shown a vertical cross-sectional view of the starter device illustrating the wiring diagram associated therewith and the accelerator control 'rod in close relation thereto.

In the drawing the reference character 5 designates a cylindrical housing having a head portion 6 provided with lateral enlarged portions 7 and 8.

The casing 5 is provided with a bracket 9 having openings 10 for receiving fastening bolts or the like so that the casing'5 may be mounted on the engine ;E and placed in close proximity to the accelerator control rod 11 of the motor vehicle which usually extends through the floor board of the motor vehicle adjacent the pedal control and continues along the side of the internal combustion engine for a portion of its length where it is connected to the carbureter throttle valve. A depending arm 12 may be fastened to the accelerator control rod 11 so that the end thereof will extend downwardly into alignment with a slide bar 13 in order that a coil spring 14 may have its ends connecting the depending arm 12 and slide bar 13 as at 15 and 16 respectively.

The slide bar 13 is movable in the upper portion of the casing 5 in openings 1'1 and 18 formed in the lateral extensions 7 and 8 and said slide bar 13 is provided at one end with a head 19 so that a coil spring 20 may have one of its ends impinging thereagainst while the opposite end abuts the outer wall of the lateral extension 8. Limiting stops 21 are formed on one end of the slide bar 13 while similar stops 22 and 23 are 99 formed on the .opposite end of the slide bar. Adjacent the stops 22 and 23 is formed a notch 24 having a cam face 25 and a straight face 26.

In alignment with the straight face 26 of the notch 24 there is provided a projection 27.

Mounted on the bottom wall of the lateral extension 8 and spaced therefrom by means of an insulating block 28 is a stationary contact arm 29 having secured to the outer end thereof a contact 30 adapted to be engaged by a similar contact 31 carried by a spring arm 32 which is also mounted on the bottom wall of the lateral extension 8 and spaced therefrom by means of an insulating block 33. The arm 32 extends upwardly as at 34 in order to be engaged by the projection 2'7 which normally holds the contacts separated by reason of the coil spring 20.

Mounted in the lower portion of the housing 5 is an electric solenoid 35 having a movable armature 36 adapted to be attracted by means of a pole piece 3'7 against the action of the coil spring 38 which has one end encircling the armature 36 and engaging the lower portion of the solenoid while the opposite end of the coil spring is engaged by a washer 39 carried by the extension 40 of the armature 36. The armature 36 is also provided with an upwardly extending portion 41 to which is pivoted a link 42 as at 43. The link 42 is provided with an angular portion 44 at one end and a roller 45 at its opposite end which is adapted to engage within the notch 24 to be moved by the sliding bar for engaging a starter switch which will be hereinafter fully described.

As shown in the drawing, a storage battery 46 has one of its terminals grounded by means of a lead wire 47 with the opposite terminal connected by a lead wire 48 to a binding post 49 which may be connected within the housing 5 to one end of the solenoid 35 by means of a lead wire 50 so that the opposite end of the solenoid 35 may be connected to the movable contact member 31 by means of a lead wire 51. The lead line 52 connects the stationary contact 30 with a binding post 53 on the inside of the casing or housing 5 so that a lead line 54 may be connected to a collector ring 55 of a generator as at 56. The opposite collector ring brush 57 may be grounded as at 58 to complete the circuit.

Secured to the upper portion of the housing 5 adjacent the lateral extension 8 is a U-shaped bracket 59 having one leg as at 60 secured to the wall of the housing by means of suitable rivets. An opening is provided in the opposite leg 61 in which is slidably mounted one end of a switch rod 62 while the opposite end of the switch rod 62 is slidably received in an opening formed in the lateral extension of the housing 7. Formed on the slide bar or rod 62 is a contact plate 63 slidably held in place by means of a pin 63a through the shaft 62 between the insulator and the contacts. Insulators 64 are arranged on opposite sides of the contact plate 63. The inner end of the sliding rod 62 is provided with an enlarged head 65 whereby a coil spring 66 may encircle the slide bar 62 and have one of its ends abutting against the enlarged head 65 while the opposite end abuts against the leg 61 of the U- shaped bracket 59. Also encircling the slide bar 62 is a coil spring 67 having one of its ends engaging the insulators 64 while the opposite end engages the leg 61 of the U-shaped bracket 59. In this manner, the contact plate 63 will be normally held away from the contacts 68 and 69 which are mounted in the lateral extension 7 of the housing 5 and are insulated therefrom by means of suitable insulating washers 70 which are held in place by means of nuts 11 and '72 threaded on the opposite ends of the contacts 68 and 69 respectively.

The contact 68 may be connected to one terminal of a suitable starter motor S for the internal combustion engine E by means of the wire 68a, the opposite terminal of the starter motor being grounded. In order to complete the circuit through the starter motor the contact 69 is connected by means of the wire 69a to the storage battery 46 through the medium of the lead line 48 so that when the contact plate 63 is in engagement with the contacts 68 and 69 a circuit will be completed through the starter motor of the internal combustion engine and through the storage battery 46.

For a consideration of the mode of operation of the invention, it will be assumed that the motor or engine of the motor vehicle to which the device is applied is not running or in motion and that the device as shown in the drawing including the accelerator rod 11 and slide bar 13 are in the position shown so that the contacts 30 and 31 will be separated and similarly the contact plate 63 will be separated from the contacts 68 and 69. With the parts in the position shown in the drawing, the driver inserts the key into the usual ignition switch and turns the switch to place the ignition circuit in the battery circuit in the usual manner. After having done so, the driver causes a movement of the accelerator rod 11 in the direction of the arrow carrying with it the lateral extension 12 whereupon continued travel of the accelerator control rod 11 will gradually move the slide bar 13 so that the projection 27 will allow the contact 31 to engage the contact 30 whereupon a circuit is completed through the solenoid 35, battery 46 and generator to the ground connection. Immediately upon energization of the solenoid 35 the armature 36 is attracted by the pole piece 37 in order to move the arm 42 upwardly so that the roller 45 on the end thereof will engage the cam face 25 and upon continued movement of the slide bar 13 the vertical face 26 of the notch 24 engages the roller 45 and moves the pivoted arm 42 into engagement with the enlarged head 65 of the slide rod 62 carrying with it the contact plate 63 which is adapted to bridge the stationary contacts 68 and 69 which movement completes a circuit through the starter motor and a storage battery 46 whereupon the starter motor rotates the internal combustion engine and starts the same. It is to be noted that fuel is being fed to the internal combustion engine at the same time that the starter is being attempted to start the motor and after said motor has been started the current is generated by the generator in the usual manner, which current opposes the current from the storage battery 46 and causes de-energization of the solenoid 35 so that the armature 36 will drop by reason of the coil spring 38. Simultaneously, the pivoted arm 42 is released from the notch 24 in the slide bar 13 thereby allowing the movable contact plate 63 to be moved out of engagement with the stationary contacts 68 and 69 by means of the coil spring 66.

Should the motor stall while the driver is operating the motor vehicle, the current from the storage battery 46 will immediately re-energize the solenoid 35 in order to move the pivoted arm 42 into engagement with the notch 24 whereupon a further movement of the accelerator rod or pedal will again effect the closing of the starter switch by means of the movable contact plate 63 being engaged with the stationary contacts 68 and 69.

It is only necessary for the slide bar 13 to move a fraction of an inch before the contacts 30 and 31 are engaged which immediately throws the pivoted arm 42 upwardly into engagement with the slide bar 13 whereupon a continued travel thereof such as by means of further accelerating the engine will operate the starter switch to start the internal combustion engine. The driver may hold the accelerator pedal fully depressed and the starter switch will be thrown out of operation while the driver may upon starting the motor immediately release the accelerator pedal so that the same will drop back to idling speed. In this manner. the circuit would also be broken through the starter switch and the starter motor all would be thrown out of the circuit with the storage battery or source of current.

After the engine has been started, the accelerator rod may only function as its initial intended purpose without effecting the starting device by reason of the fact that the generator current at all times opposes the storage battery voltage from the battery 46.

It is to be understood that. the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. An automatic starter for internal combustion engines having a starter motor circuit, generator and throttle control, comprising an electromag-- net in a normally open circuit with the generator means operable upon movement of the throttle control for closing the circuit, a normally open starter circuit including a switch and means controllable by the first mentioned circuit for directly connecting the throttle control to the starter circuit switch.

2. An automatic starter for internal combustion engines having a starter motor, starter switch, generator and throttle control, comprising an electro-magnet in a normally open circuit, means controlled by the throttle control for closing the circuit, means-operated by the electro-magnet for connecting the throttle control to the starter motor switch.

3. An automatic starter for internal combustion engines, having a generator, source of current, throttle control and starter motor circuit, comprising an electro-magnet in a normally open circuit with the source of current and generator, means operable by the throttle control for closing the circuit, means operable by the energization of the electro-magnet for connecting the throttle control to the starter motor circuit switch.

4. An automatic starter for internal combustion engines having a starter motor, throttle control, and starter switch comprising an electromagnet in a normally open circuit, means operable by movements of the throttle control of the engine for closing the circuit, means operable by the electro-magnet for establishing a connection between the throttle control and starter switch and means for de-energizing the electro-magnet after'the engine has been started.

5. An automatic starter for internal combustion engines having a starter motor, starter switch, throttle control and source of current, comprising an electro-magnet in a normally open circuit in which is included the engine generator, means controlled by the engine throttle lever for closing the electro-magnet circuit, a starter switch for the engine starter motor, means operable by the electro-magnet for establishing a connection between the throttle control and starter switch, whereby operation of the throttle control will close the starter switch, to start the engine and means produced by the starting of the engine for breaking the connection between the throttle control and starter switch thereby allowing the throttle control to function only as an accelerator.

6. An automatic starter forinternal combustion engines having a starter motor, starter switch and throttle control comprising an electromagnet having an armature, means operated by the throttle control of the engine for causing the if electro-magnet to become energized, means operable by the armature for engaging the throttle control, a starter switch adapted to be operated by the last named means, and means for de-energizing the electro-magnet after the engine has started.

7. An automatic starter for internal combustion engines having a starter motor, throttle control and starter motor circuit comprising a housing adapted to be mounted on the engine adjacent the throttle control, an electro magnet mounted in the housing, a slide bar mounted in the upper portion of the housing, a connection between the throttle control and slide bar, means on the slide bar for closing a circuit through the electro-magnet, an armature for the electro-magnet, a link pivoted to the armature adapted to engage the notch in the slide bar and a starter switch mounted in the housing for being engaged by the pivoted link to close the circuit through the starter. motor of the internal combustion engine.

8. An automatic starter for internal combustion engines having a throttle control, generator, starter motor and starter motor switch comprising a housing adapted to be located adjacent the throttle control, an electro magnet mounted in the bottom of the housing, a normally open circuit for said-electro magnet, said circuit including the generator of theinternal combustion engine and a source of current, a normally open starter switch mounted in the upper portion of the housing, means operable by the energization of the electromagnet by operation of the throttle control for mechanically connecting the throttle control to the starter switch, whereby starting of the engine will operate the generator producing a flow of current in opposition to the first mentioned source of current effecting a neutralizing of the electromagnet polarity which disconnects the the starter switch.

9. An automatic starter for internal combustion engines having a throttle control, and starter circuit including a motor comprising a housing adapted to be mounted adjacent the throttle control, an electro-magnet mounted in the lower portion of the housing, a slide bar mounted in the upper portion of the housing having lugs and a notch, a starter switch located above the electro-magnet, a coil spring connecting the throttle control with the slide bar, a switch for the electro-magnet mounted in the housing adapted to be closed by the lugs on the slide bar, a pivoted link adapted to be operated by the electro-magnet to move the free end of the link into the notch in the slide bar whereby continued travel of the slide bar will cause said pivoted link to engage the starter switch for closing the same, and means controlled by the starting of the engine to allow the throttle control to function as an accelerator only.

10. Starting means for internal combustion engines of automobiles comprising in combination with an accelerator operating device, a shiftable member having a spring connection with the device, a starter motor switch, electrically operating means adapted to be engaged with the shiftable member and moved thereby for closing the starter motor switch and means for disengaging the electrically operated means from the shiftable member when the engine is operating under its own power to permit operation of the acceleray tor operating device independently of the starter motor switch.

11'. Starting means for internal combustion able member having a, spring connection with the device, a starter motor switch, electrically operating means adapted to be engaged with the shiftable member and moved thereby for closing the starter motor switch, means for disengaging the electrically operated means from the shiftable member when the engine is operating under its own power to permit operation of the accelerator operating device independently of the starter motor switch, and means for rendering the electrically operated means operative during initial movement of the shiftable member.

12. Starting means for internal combustion engines of automobiles comprising in combination with an accelerator operating device, a shiftable member having a spring connection with the device, a starter motor switch, an electromagnet, an arm projectable upon energization of the magnet into engagement with the shiftable member and moved thereby for closing the starter motor switch, and means operated by the member and moved thereby for closing the starter motor switch, means operated by the engine in electrical communication with the magnet for de-energization thereof whereby the accelerator operating device and shiitable member move independently of the starter motor switch, and a control switch for the electro-magnet rendered operable during initial movement of the shiftable member.

KENNETH R. BLAKE. 

